The act of retiring or giving up a position should be the mark of a Believer, not necessarily as it pertains to work, but in one’s heart. For our life in Yeshua to be secure and complete we must embrace resignation of our ways and means in exchange for those of God. I don’t think I have heard this message very often, but it is touched upon when we consider surrendering to God’s will. However, these are different as surrender is ceasing to resist, giving in to a stronger force, while resigning is a more voluntary letting go of something obtained. The end result may be the same in that we find a place of reliance upon God alone, we are removed from participating directly. It can be very freeing to resign, just as retirement releases us from the load and burden of employment. I’m not saying quit your job, God called me and blessed me with purpose in my employment and in my case, it was not my decision to retire, He decided it for me.
I have a long way to go in my understanding and practice of resignation. It feels like anything, but freedom in many cases because I have become accustomed to planning and thinking things out. I want to develop habits like riding a train, sitting and enjoying the ride and view. We often hear, “God is in control” when things seem out of control, but giving God the reigns and relying on His means is resigning from our control or influence over matters we are accustomed to manage ourselves. Scripture says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
(1 Timothy 6:6-10) Can you be content with food and clothing? Is our desire for money, comfort, wealth and pleasure the source of our griefs, harmful anxiety and lack of contentment? I think so, in many respects. If we have faith to take God at His word and trust Him with our future, we will find He is more satisfying and fulfilling than anything the enemy and our fallen nature are suggesting.
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